Dallas County

Dallas County, Iowa — key demographics (latest Census Bureau estimates; rounded)

• Population size: About 115,000 (2023 Population Estimates Program)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~35–36 years
  • Under 18: ~28–29%
  • 65 and over: ~11–12%
• Gender (sex):
  • Female: ~50%
  • Male: ~50%
• Racial/ethnic composition (mutually exclusive):
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~78%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~7%
  • Asian, non-Hispanic: ~7%
  • Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~3%
  • Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~4%
  • Other, non-Hispanic: ~1%
• Households:
  • Number of households: ~41,000
  • Average household size: ~2.7 persons
  • Family households: ~74%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Population Estimates (PEP); 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year tables DP05 (Demographic and Housing Estimates), S0101 (Age/Sex), S1101 (Households).

Dallas County, IA snapshot (estimates; ACS + Pew benchmarks)

• Estimated email users: 75–80k adults (≈90%+ of adults). Including teens likely adds ~5–7k more users.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–29: ~20%
  • 30–49: ~40–45% (county skews family‑age)
  • 50–64: ~20–25%
  • 65+: ~12–15% (usage ~80–85%, rising)
• Gender split: roughly even (~50/50).
• Digital access trends:
  • About nine in ten households subscribe to broadband (higher than the Iowa average).
  • Smartphone adoption is widespread (>80% among adults), driving email access on mobile.
  • Remote work/school in suburban areas has increased daily email engagement.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • One of Iowa’s fastest‑growing counties (population ~110k); highest density in the eastern suburbs (Waukee, West Des Moines/Clive areas, Adel).
  • Eastern I‑80/I‑35 corridor has dense cable/fiber options; western/rural townships rely more on fixed wireless/satellite, which can affect speeds and consistency.
  • Public Wi‑Fi and library access in town centers supplement access for lower‑connectivity areas.

Notes: User counts extrapolate from county population (ACS) and national email adoption rates (Pew). Actual figures vary by neighborhood, provider availability, and age mix.

Mobile phone usage in Dallas County, Iowa — summary with county–state contrasts

User estimates (modeled)

• Population baseline: ~110–115k residents (2024 est); adults 18+ ~85–90k. Households: roughly 35–40k.
• Smartphone users: 90–100k (assumes higher-than-Iowa adoption given the county’s younger, higher‑income profile).
• 5G‑capable handsets: 75–85k (strong mid‑band 5G footprint in the Des Moines–Waukee corridor accelerates upgrades).
• Lines per household: ~3.0–3.5 on average (more multi‑line family plans than state average).
• Wearables/connected devices (watches, tablets, vehicles): 20–35k lines (higher penetration than state average due to income and commuting).

Demographic breakdown shaping usage

• Age: Younger than the Iowa average. Larger shares of children/teens and adults 25–44 (Waukee/West Des Moines growth). This lifts total device counts per household and pushes earlier smartphone adoption among teens.
• Seniors: Smaller share than state average, but higher smartphone adoption among 65+ relative to the state (income/education effects), raising telehealth and messaging usage.
• Income/education: Among the highest in Iowa, with above‑average bachelor’s attainment. Correlates with more premium postpaid plans, 5G handset uptake, and add‑on lines (watches, tablets, hotspots).
• Race/ethnicity and language: Overall diversity higher than typical Iowa counties, with notable Hispanic and growing Asian populations. Countywide, postpaid dominates; however, pockets (e.g., Perry) show relatively higher prepaid use than the county average, tied to affordability and language‑support preferences.

Usage and plan patterns that differ from Iowa overall

• Higher smartphone and 5G adoption rates, faster device replacement cycles.
• Lower share of prepaid and mobile‑only households; most homes maintain fixed broadband plus mobile.
• More multi‑line family plans, eSIM usage, and wearables/vehicle connections.
• Work patterns: Above‑average remote/hybrid work and heavy commuting into Polk County shift mobile demand toward residential areas in mornings/evenings and toward Polk County during workdays.
• Data consumption skew: More video streaming, navigation, and hotspot use among commuters; higher weekday daytime home‑cell usage than state average.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• 5G coverage/capacity:
  • Strong mid‑band 5G along I‑80/US‑6 and the fast‑growing Waukee–Clive–West Des Moines edge; multiple national carriers provide overlapping 5G, boosting speeds and capacity.
  • Densification via small cells in new subdivisions, school/athletic complexes, and retail corridors. Peak loads evenings/weekends.
  • Rural northwest and river‑valley pockets see more LTE fallback and lower upload speeds than the metro edge.
• Backhaul/fiber:
  • Robust fiber along I‑80 and through Waukee/Adel supports higher cell‑site capacity than typical Iowa counties; rural backhaul constraints still limit throughput at the fringes.
  • Aggressive fiber builds in new residential areas reduce reliance on mobile‑only internet, unlike many rural Iowa counties.
• Carriers and resilience:
  • All three national MNOs present; UScellular provides added rural coverage. FirstNet Band 14 coverage along major corridors supports public safety.
  • New macro sites track suburban expansion; infill continues near schools and arterials.
• Coverage pain points:
  • Terrain and tree cover near the Raccoon River and toward the Boone county line can create dead zones.
  • Construction growth occasionally outpaces small‑cell permitting, producing temporary capacity pinch points in the newest subdivisions.

Equity and affordability notes (county vs state)

• The Affordable Connectivity Program’s wind‑down hit fewer households proportionally than the Iowa average (smaller low‑income share), but effects are visible in specific tracts (e.g., parts of Perry), where prepaid and budget plans fill gaps.
• Digital divide is narrower than the state average but persists in rural tracts for both fixed broadband and strong 5G signal.

How these trends diverge most from Iowa overall

• Faster population growth and younger age structure drive higher device density and earlier 5G adoption.
• More robust metro‑adjacent 5G and fiber reduces mobile‑only dependence and raises average mobile speeds.
• Plan mix tilts further toward premium/postpaid and multi‑line bundles; prepaid share lower overall, with localized exceptions.
• Network demand patterns reflect commuter suburbia rather than agrarian/rural Iowa (evening residential peaks, event‑driven spikes, and day‑shift usage migrating into Polk County).

Notes on estimation

• Figures above are modeled from recent ACS population/age structure, national smartphone adoption benchmarks, and known metro Des Moines 5G build‑outs; they are best used as planning ranges. For validation and precise counts, combine: ACS 1‑year county tables (population/age/households/income), FCC Broadband Data Collection mobile maps (5G/LTE), carrier coverage disclosures, and third‑party performance datasets (e.g., Ookla, RootMetrics, OpenCelliD).

Here’s a concise, data‑informed snapshot of social media use in Dallas County, Iowa. Where local, county‑level measures aren’t published, figures are estimated by applying recent U.S. usage rates (Pew Research Center) to the county’s population profile.

Context

• Population: roughly 110–115k (2023 est.); skewing suburban/family with a relatively young median age (mid‑30s).
• Adults (18+): ~80–87k.

Overall adoption (adults)

• Any social media: about 72–75% of adults (roughly 58–65k people), based on national benchmarks.

Most‑used platforms among adults (share of adults; estimates using U.S. averages)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• Snapchat: ~30%
• WhatsApp: ~29%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Reddit: ~22% Note: Neighborhood apps (e.g., Nextdoor) are commonly used in suburban areas for HOA and neighborhood updates, but reliable county‑level percentages aren’t available.

Age profile (usage patterns)

• 13–17: Very high YouTube use; TikTok and Snapchat are core daily platforms; Instagram is also strong. Teens are video‑first and creator‑led.
• 18–29: Heaviest cross‑platform use; Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube dominate; Facebook is secondary.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube anchor daily use; Instagram growing; Pinterest notable for home/parenting content; LinkedIn used by professionals/commuters.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube lead; Pinterest and LinkedIn moderate; TikTok use is rising but still lower than younger cohorts.
• 65+: Facebook for family/community updates; YouTube for news/how‑to; lighter use elsewhere. Indicative “any social” adoption by age (U.S. adults): 18–29 ~84%, 30–49 ~81%, 50–64 ~73%, 65+ ~45–50%.

Gender tendencies

• Women: Over‑index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; strong participation in local groups, school/youth sports, and buy‑sell‑trade.
• Men: Over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, X; higher participation in tech/sports/news discourse.
• Messaging: Snapchat (younger users) and Facebook Messenger are common across genders; WhatsApp is used by internationally connected households.

Behavioral trends seen in Dallas County’s suburban context

• Community and parenting hubs: Facebook Groups for schools, booster clubs, youth sports, churches, garage sales; high engagement around school calendars, weather impacts, and local services.
• Neighborhood coordination: Nextdoor/FB neighborhood groups for HOA, snow removal, lost/found pets, and safety alerts.
• Events and local discovery: Facebook Events and Instagram posts/stories to find festivals, youth activities, and new restaurants; local TV/radio pages (e.g., Des Moines stations) for weather and closures.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace and local buy‑sell‑trade groups are very active; seasonal spikes (youth sports gear, lawn/landscaping, moving/real estate).
• Professional use: Noticeable LinkedIn use among commuters and knowledge‑workers (West Des Moines/Waukee corridor), especially for hiring and industry news.
• Content formats: Short‑form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) performs best; photo carousels on Instagram and quick updates in Facebook Groups also drive engagement.
• Timing: Evening hours (7–10 pm) and weekend mornings see the most local engagement; surges during severe weather, school announcements, and election seasons.

Notes and sources

• Population: U.S. Census Bureau county estimates (latest available).
• Platform adoption: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use (2024 adults) and Teens & Social Media (2023).
• County figures are estimates derived from national usage rates applied to Dallas County’s demographic profile; actual local penetration may vary.